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Saanen-Senf: A Swiss Mustard Made with Cherries

A Saanen-Senf (Saanen-Mustard) made by Bäckerei Müller in Saanen, Switzerland.

During a recent visit to Saanen, one of nine villages around Gstaad in the canton of Bern, I discovered a mustard known as Saanen-Senf. Senf means mustard in German, but this product contains an ingredient not typically found in this popular condiment: Swiss cherries.

You may already be familiar with a similar product, Moutarde de Bénichon (Bénichon Mustard) from the Swiss canton of Fribourg. Like Saanen-Senf, Moutarde deBénichon also more closely resembles a jam than a mustard — although both typically contain mustard powder. Bénichon Mustard is made with vin cuit, a thick pear-based syrup, as well as spices, like star anise, cinnamon and cloves. In comparison, Saanen-Senf uses cherry must — which Patrimoine Culinaire Suisse describes as a cherry-based version of vin cuit.

According to Gstaad Saanenland Tourism, Saanen-Senf is commonly paired with ham or sausages. This sweet, spiced jam goes nicely with salty, cured meat. For example, you may find it on the menu at the Swiss Stübli of the five-star Alpina Gstaad hotel, served with sausages on a bed of cabbage and alongside roasted potatoes.

The sweet, spiced Saanen-Senf pairs nicely with salty, savory ham.

Where to buy Saanen-Senf –You can find Saanen-Senf in local bakeries, dairies and small markets in the Gstaad Saanenland region, such as:

This mustard sounds very tasty, I’d like to try it. It’s fantastic how creative and innovative some regions in Switzerland are. Thank you for paying attention to these niche products! The next time I’m visiting I obviously have to go to Saanen too 😉